"Eh? Hold on…! What changed…? Don't tell me I looked THAT pitiful…!?"
In response, Melinda gasped, also ending up blushing while raising her arms and trying to hide her face in a rather awkward but extremely cute way.
"No! I mean… a little bit…? But… the thing is…"
Lidia flinched and called out, only to go back to mumbling.
"...I mean… I thought you were putting up the perfect act to poke fun at everyone from Emeraldios Empire… but after what you said about being jealous about your fiance, I realized that your act only had your fiance in mind… that you and I are similar, and are under a lot of pressure because of our respective engagements… and when I thought how I would feel if someone put me in a situation that I was putting you in I… I'm terribly sorry, Young Lady Fenrioette…!"
The girl declared, standing up from her seat and actually bowing her head as low as she could to the surprised Melinda.
"Young Lady Em'ralido! I apologize to you, too! I swear to make it up to both of you!"
Lidia straightened her back only for a moment and bowed towards Bjorki next, assuring both girls before returning to her seat, greatly ashamed of herself.
"...i-it's nothing… As long as no one got harmed, everything is okay…"
Bjorki, clearly shaken by the sudden confession, had a bit of a hard time calming down. She had to gulp her saliva and clear her throat a few times before coming up with an awkward answer.
"So it's like that! I had no idea you were in similar circumstances to me, Lidi~! Say… by any chance, is your fiance someone from your neighboring territory~? The one in charge of the basilisks' swamp~?"
Melinda did not pick up the spoon or attempt to begin eating, but she did smile brightly and leaned in, asking Lidia in a cheeky voice.
"!!! Y-yes…"
In response, Lidia flinched and got even more red, putting up her shoulders as she admitted in a timid voice.
"I-I'm actually engaged to Lord Paul Ir'cegun, the new head of the Ir'cegun territory… He's a few years older than me and is a very serious but gentle person… I… I actually spent the summer break in his mansion…"
Lidia nodded, getting all fidgety and even going as far as sharing some steamy details.
"Kyaah~! No way~! Don't tell me you'll end up like Leo and Rich and graduate early because of… circumstances~?
Melinda gasped, clapping her hands in excitement with her face flushed.
"...th-there is a chance of that~"
Lidia fidgeted for a few seconds before peeking at Melinda. She looked away and nodded with a slightly guilty but also proud smile, discreetly putting one hand on her stomach.
"Kyaaa~!"
The change of topic completely reversed the party's atmosphere, transforming it from heavy and dark to one that you would expect from an unofficial meeting of adolescent noble maidens.
"Lui, don't think we missed the ring you didn't have yesterday~ I'm also pretty sure you pointed out that you weren't engaged during royal siblings introduction, right? Tell us what's going on~!"
"~!"
Melinda moved her head slightly and asked the girl sitting between her and Lidia, causing her to perk up. She tried to hide her smile, putting her hands to her chest in a way that showed off the obvious engagement ring on her left hand.
"Oh, you know…"
The girl cleared her throat and looked to the side trying to play it off even though she couldn't hide how pleased she was with all of those details being noticed and addressed.
"Sir Daniel Orn'del from our class. He invited me for tea a few times last year. I believed he was simply fooling around, but he actually paid an official visit to my family mansion during summer break and talked with my parents."
"Eeehhh?! Louise! Why weren't you wearing the ring until now?"
After the girl's humble boast, another girl gasped in disbelief.
"Ohoho~! Were you trying to tease him?"
Someone else giggled and inquired.
"Oh, no. It was only one visit, and we didn't talk much outside of it."
Louise shook her head, causing confusion amongst the other girls.
"Truth be told, I might have been slightly troubled over the fact Sir Daniel was taking his time to that extent… so when an opportunity presented itself, I pointed out that I am, in fact, single. That made him approach me after the lectures…"
She revealed and bit her lips, trying to contain a big smile that recalling the events brought to her face while the other girls were holding their breaths in anticipation.
"He took my hand and kissed it. He's so old-fashioned ~ He received the approval of my family yesterday, and within an hour, he showed up in my room and gave me this ring. It's his family heirloom~ If my father weren't so difficult to appease, Sir Daniel would have given it to me back in summer, but he waited for the blessing~"
"~!"
Louise said, unable to hide her proud smile anymore while basking in the gasp of the other Young Ladies.
By that point, most of the girls had begun enjoying the meal.
"...?"
That included Lidia, who skillfully cracked and removed the part of the shell and scooped a spoonful of white only to furrow her brows and tilt her head in confusion after putting it in her mouth.
"..."
Interestingly enough, Bjorki tensed up at the sight of it as she appeared to be keenly watching the other girl.
In turn, Bjorki's reaction was noticed by Melinda and led her to pay attention to Lidia too, putting down her spoon after only cracking and removing the upper part of the shell.
There were a few single girls amongst the group, as well as one who turned completely red and mumbled that she wanted to keep her relationship a secret.
And after Bjorki waved her arms around declaring that her future is still undecided, that left only one girl who didn't joined in on the conversation.
"What about you Nati?"
Melinda asked while making sure to keep Lidia in her sight just in case, considering Bjorki's suspicious behavior.
"Ugh…"
"Whoa, Natalie! You are engaged, right? But you never talk about your fiance… Don't tell me it's to some creepy old man…!"
While the girl asked by Melinda let out a bitter groan Louise who she was her closest friend called out in distress.